Memorable Moments From Oscar Night

With war raging, Hollywood went through with its big night and the result was one of the most memorable Oscar nights in years.

Here are some of the more memorable quotes from the podium and backstage:

"Well, I'm glad they cut back on all the glitz. You
probably noticed there was no fancy red carpet tonight. That'll
send them a message."

— Steve Martin, in his opening monologue.

"My hormones are too way out of control to be dealing with
this."

— Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is due to deliver her second child in a few weeks, accepting her award for best supporting actress.
Reflections on Iraq

"My experience making this film made me very aware of the
sadness and the dehumanization of people in times of war, and the
repercussions of war. And whether you believe in God or Allah, may
he watch over you, and let's pray for a peaceful and swift
resolution."

— Adrien Brody, upon winning best actor for The Pianist, the story of musician Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jew who lived through World War II by hiding from the Nazis in the Warsaw ghetto.

"We like nonfiction and we live in fictitious times. We live in a time where we have fictitious election results, that elect a fictitious president. We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons."

— Filmmaker Michael Moore, upon winning for best documentary. His anti-war comments met with a strong mix of boos and cheers. Host Steve Martin joked after Moore finished speaking that, "the Teamsters are helping Mr. Moore into the trunk of his limo."

"Why do you come to the Academy Awards when the world is in
such turmoil? Because art is important. And because you believe in what you do and you want to honor that, and it is a tradition that needs to be upheld."

— Nicole Kidman, upon winning best actress for her role as Virginia Woolf in The Hours.

"To all the people that are raising their voices in favor of peace, respect of human rights, democracy and international legality, all of which are essential qualities to lead … This award is also to them."

— Pedro Almodovar, winning best original screenplay for Talk to Her.

"To all of our men and women overseas, Godspeed and let's get you home soon. To the Iraqi people, I say, let's have peace soon and let you live
without war."

— Frank Pierson, the president of the Academy of Motion
Pictures Arts and Sciences, who had struggled for a week with the dilemma of whether Sunday's show should go on in the midst of a controversial war.

A Taste of Victory

"I have my very own Oscar now to be with me 'til death us do part. … I wish the academy to know I am delighted as I am honored."

— Peter O'Toole, who had been nominated for seven Oscar awards but never won, accepting a lifetime achievement award.

"I think he's going to feel great about the Oscar. He's really proud of this song, it's a very positive tune. … He's been real busy. He's running a record label. We're in there every day, every night, and he's taking a break. But he's going to be stunned and grateful and very overjoyed."

— Luis Resto, one of Eminem's songwriting partners on "Lose Yourself," accepting the award for best original song on the rapper's behalf.

"I will discuss his work as a director of a film and no other aspect of his life tonight. … I have nothing to say about it."

— Screenwriter Ronald Harwood, backstage, on director Roman Polanski winning best director. Polanski has not set foot in the United States since fleeing a statutory rape conviction in 1977. He fled to France in 1978.